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General Vintage Technology Discussions For general discussions about vintage radio and other vintage electronics etc. |
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30th Sep 2019, 3:07 pm | #1 |
Heptode
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 998
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Rhossili Down radar station
Just had a walk up to the radar site on Rhossili down...a good walk to good ruins, but I can find no photographs of what it was like in '42-45.
Anyone got any ideas or links?
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David, G4YVM. |
30th Sep 2019, 3:25 pm | #2 |
Octode
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Wimbledon, London, UK.
Posts: 1,463
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Re: Rhossili down radar station
Try this:
https://www.discovergower360.com/act...hossili-downs/ and this: https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4005307 If you Google "rhossili down radar station" there are some more. I lived for a couple or so years on the Gower peninsula, but I never saw this ruin. Colin. |
30th Sep 2019, 3:58 pm | #3 |
Heptode
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 998
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Re: Rhossili down radar station
Thanks, I've seen both those sites but nothing showing the station when it was working..
well, ive been coming here for nigh on 40 years and today was my first visit...so you're not alone!! Thanks though for the links. D
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David, G4YVM. |
30th Sep 2019, 5:48 pm | #4 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Stafford, Staffs. UK.
Posts: 2,528
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Re: Rhossili Down radar station
Apparently part of CHL (Chain Home Low). This isn't as it might sound a low frequency system, but a system that can 'see' lower than the standard Chain Home system that could also pick up low flying aircraft. There was also CHEL (Extra) that could apprently detect shipping.
Why do I know all this? I happened to visit RAF Bempton last week (East Yorkshire) that was part of the same system, but also seemed to have an experimental phased array, and then coversion to a newer system called ROTOR. |
30th Sep 2019, 6:50 pm | #5 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, UK.
Posts: 11,471
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Re: Rhossili Down radar station
Most of what remains at Bempton is underground, but apart from being on private property it is also in a fairly dangerous condition, one hazard being asbestos. That Y-shaped seaward pointing array, or the array of posts which supported it, is certainly interesting.
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30th Sep 2019, 11:02 pm | #6 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Penrith, Cumbria, UK.
Posts: 3,680
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Re: Rhossili Down radar station
If you're ever up St. Bees way there're still some buildings extant from the CHL RADAR site there. I expect Rhossili would be similar. Here's a gratuitous link to the page on my website:- http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~rw...e/stbeesch.htm
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Regds, Russell W. B. G4YLI. |
1st Oct 2019, 4:48 am | #7 |
Nonode
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Tintinara, South Australia, Australia
Posts: 2,321
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Re: Rhossili Down radar station
From what I could find on the 'net, the station was dismantled and parts of it dynamited almost immediately the war ended, so, if any photo's ever existed of it in an operational state, they would probably be in some MOD archive somewhere.
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1st Oct 2019, 7:58 am | #8 |
Heptode
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 998
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Re: Rhossili Down radar station
Yes, amusingly it was demolished in Operation Eyesore. Whether the operation was to remove or create eyesore is not.now so clear...
Coincidentally I was looking last night at one of those urban explorers websites and they had been inside a ROTOR radar side but I wasnt sure what it was. Thanks for the clarification Anyway, Rhossili down site is worth the hike. On a nice day !!
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David, G4YVM. |
1st Oct 2019, 10:03 am | #9 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Hull, East Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 2,082
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Re: Rhossili Down radar station
I have been to Bempton. It is in a really bad state. Yes. You are ankle-deep in burnt wall rendering. This is what probably contains asbestos as well as any pipe-lagging there once was. Needless to say I wore a full-face respirator & was very careful moving around, so as not to disturb any dust.
DON'T GO IN THERE! Got that? It IS on private land, even though the perimeter fence is long-gone. BTW: I was there with permission. The formation of blocks is reckoned to be a post ROTOR installation. |
1st Oct 2019, 2:10 pm | #10 |
Heptode
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 506
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Re: Rhossili Down radar station
I've been to Bempton a few times 1960/70 with permission from MPWB, looking at the impressed current anti corrosion system, for large bore cast iron heating pipes. Basically its a transformer and rectifier the pipes were well lagged not sure about asbestos though. Also Bempton is the place to be if you are interested in sea birds, especially in the spring time. Spectacular cliffs and views of the sea any time.
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1st Oct 2019, 5:52 pm | #11 | |
Nonode
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Stafford, Staffs. UK.
Posts: 2,528
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Re: Rhossili Down radar station
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